Oye Ekta! Ekta oye!

By Hindustan Times

Mumbai, Dec. 13 -- After Marathi, Bhojpuri and south Indian languages, soap queen Ekta Kapoor has ventured into Punjabi TV shows now. Her first one in her mother tongue is titled Kinna Sona Tennu Rab Ne Banaya.

The show, currently being shot in Film City in 12-16 hour shifts, will also be shot in the interiors of Punjab. Here, lead actor, model Teejay Siddhu, will be shown running a roadside dhaba with her two sisters and mother, all of whom have been abandoned by their alcoholic father.

The show's title has been borrowed from a hit number by the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. It has been used in a track specially created for the show, sung by Jaspinder Narula.

"My parents will be the happiest to watch the episodes," beams Teejay, who is making her acting debut with a show in her mother tongue as well. "As kids, they ensured that my brothers, sisters and I never spoke English at home in Vancouver. We were taught to speak, read and write Punjabi. So, if I speak in Punjabi, no one would believe that I speak accented English and vice versa."

The show is based in rural Punjab, and highlights the story of the struggle of a four-woman family. Teejay has been shooting it for a couple of days now. The first promos of the show have been put up on air with footage of Ekta's previous popular shows like Kahanii Ghar Ghar Kii and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi as reference points.

The debutant actor is not worried about the fact that Punjabi channels are not hugely watched in Mumbai. "Regional channels always have a better following in the respective language regions. They're also watched abroad," says Teejay, adding, "This show will be aired in Canada, UK, USA and London and some other pockets of the world. Regional shows are made on shoestring budgets and are still followed because there are such few in number. Kinna Sona... is on a large canvas. So, it will be a treat for the viewers."